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Definition: PATA

(Parallel ATA) The original "integrated drive electronics" (IDE) technology that transferred data from the hard disk over a parallel data channel to the motherboard. After SATA (Serial ATA) drives were introduced, the PATA term was coined to refer to the parallel drives. Although SATA drives also use integrated drive electronics, they are not referred to as IDE drives.

ATA (AT Attachment) is the official name for the IDE drive interface; therefore, ATA, IDE, EIDE (Enhanced IDE) and PATA are synonymous. See IDE and SATA.